Think About It

by Katelyn Powers, Natalie McGarry and Maddie Huml

Amental health pandemic is on the rise.

Mental health issues are becoming worse or more frequent in this day and age.

There are many different reasons for mental health issues becoming more frequent. Our school is doing it’s best keeping up with this increase and making sure many resources are in the building. Although it’s not perfect, the goal of improving is always in mind.

Worldwide there has been an increase in people experiencing severe mental health issues. This has created a high demand for treatment, a much higher demand than some places can provide. Things such as lack ofbfunding and staff shortages are a big part of the problem in itself. Therapists and counselors are often fully booked for several months before an appointment slot opens up or some schools just don’t have the money for having a liscensed therapist at the school. “Mental health is a huge need in the community we just dont have, espically after the pandemic, we just don’t have enough people to cover everyone who needs a therapist,” Youth Service Center Coordinator Erin Emmington White said. White is one of the multiple faculty members at our school who is here to help the students if it’s needed.

Having a safe environment for students to be able to talk about their emotions is important especially for a big school. “Sometimes it’s hard to have an environment where you can just talk and I think that’s something that’s really important to have,” sophomore Maddy Beckham said. Beckham is a student who has had a past with mental health struggles and has used the school’s resources for her own benefit. From Mental Health America over 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family or in their social life. “Its just important for you to be open and honest when you’re struggling so you can get the right resources to help you,” Beckham said.

At our school, there are many different resources available to students in need of counseling. Whether it’s stopping by White’s room or talking to a teacher they feel close to, students have different opportunities to get the help they need at our school. “I can’t help with algebra or physics but I can help with all the stuff that affects your lives and talk to students if they ever need it. I can also connect students with more long term connections if they need those resources,” White said. There are currently three therapists that make weekly visits to the school to provide sessions for students. These three therapists have full caseloads, which means they aren’t available to see additional students for the time being but White is working on getting more to our school with the increase of student body.

With not only having the trained professionals such as White being able to help the student body, teachers and trusted staff are another resource. “Just having someone is really important and theres a lot of teachers here that are willing just to help and gladly listen to you,” Beckham said. Many other students use the school’s resources just like Beckham when they feel like they need it. Having the opportunities to reach out to people and get help allows for students to acknowledge what they need and in the end, help them have better mental health.

Anxiety and depression are the two most popular issues dealt with in a high school. Around 30% of teens in high school either deal with an anxiety disorder or depression. “I normally talk to kids if they’re in the middle of a panic attack and help calm them down and help them get into a space where theyre ready to get back to class because that’s the goal, for you to be in class,” White said. Being able to acknowledge these issues in teens at our school and community can lead us to ultimately helping the students who need it.

Our school has goals to improve in the mental health direction and department as a whole and not only with our already present staff. Having three counselors and White being a resource for students gives them ability to have connections and not be alone. “I help with mental health and other ways of help but all the way up to severe mental health and everything in between. My job is just to really be here for the students who need it,” White said.

15.08% of 12-17 year olds reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode in the past year.

Over 2.5 M of youth cope with severe major depression. of youth with major depression do not recieve any mental health treatment.

60.3%